Anti-Freeze

**Jgill450** · 03-23-2010, 11:09 PM

I agree about the dangers out there, that's why I'm reluctant to take on another kitty, I'm just sad that they have to be kept in the home to be safe. On the other hand, Dusty lived twelve years and Dippy lived ten, they were not totally outside cats, they came and went as they pleased (provided I was there to open the door); the first four years of Dusty's live was spent in the country where he and his brother Tommy (who was hit by a car in 2005) lived the good life. Had they not gotten into the anti-freeze, they would have lived many more years.

When I decide to take on the responsibility of another cat, it will have to be a kitten so I can train him on a leash and get him use to taking a bath so I could restrict him to the house.

**Anikaca77** · 03-24-2010, 01:35 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about your 2 kitties, may they rest in peace.

When you are ready to look for another cat, please try to look at shelters, there maybe an adult cat that is already trained on a leash that would love a home with you.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Melissa

**king2005** · 03-24-2010, 01:49 PM

Sorry for your kitty losses

You can put kitties outside & keep them safe. My friend puts her cat on a zip line in her back yard. He loves it! He'll stay out there all day in the summer romping around & playing with plants.

My sister takes her oldest cat out for walks on a collar/leash during the summer.

A lady back home took her cat for walks on a string.

Another lady also put her cats on Zip lines.

My cat is harness trained & leash trained. She'll be going for outdoor romps this summer.

I'm a firm believer that dogies & kitties shouldn't be running free, its too risky. They are family, not wild animals, IMO

**happylabs** · 03-24-2010, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Jgill450

When I decide to take on the responsibility of another cat, it will have to be a kitten so I can train him on a leash and get him use to taking a bath so I could restrict him to the house.

My experience has been that you generally do not need to bathe cats. They keep themselves pretty clean on their own. Except for my RB kitty Kit-Kat. She got a little heavy and had trouble cleaning her rear area so I had to wash that for her on occasion.

**king2005** · 03-24-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by happylabs

My experience has been that you generally do not need to bathe cats. They keep themselves pretty clean on their own. Except for my RB kitty Kit-Kat. She got a little heavy and had trouble cleaning her rear area so I had to wash that for her on occasion.

It is a good idea to get them use to a bath. Cam doesn't mind it at all. She'll hop onto my chest, then I'll sit up & plop her into the water & will just rinse her off.. I don't use soap on her, as she is usually clean. She only smells if she as in the litter box & got excited by me being there & started to roll onto her side... ewww... Even then I only use water to get the bulk & smell off her.. she'll do the cleaning part

**Jgill450** · 03-24-2010, 11:32 PM

Thanks for the advise, all of my cats have been rescue kitty's in some way.
The thing I like about cats in the first place is that they retain a small bit of their wild heritage. We've managed to domesticate dogs for the most part, but cats are a different story.
I believe that a cats response the humans has a lot to do with how we raise them. Dusty was always laying on top of me, grooming me to show his affection and tried to join me for my dinner. It's funny how the things that bothered me the most about Dusty are the things I miss the most now that he's gone. Like him sticking his tong down my ear if I didn't get up and feed him breakfast. If I do get another kitty, he (sorry I've grown fond of male cats when neutered at a young age) will be a rescue cat of young age, short haired ( Dippy was the most beautiful cat to see and feel, but the shedding) kitten so that he will develop the same type of relationship I had with Dusty and Dippy.
As far as bathing the cats, we had to give Dippy a bath on a regular basis since he loved getting dirty; we bathed him one time and as soon as I opened the door he ran out leaped off the porch and landed upside down to roll in the dirt. If you have not done so I have pictures of the boy's posted, you'll see what I mean about Dippy, Dusty however was meticulously clean and we bathed he twice in his 12 years.

Thanks for all of your responses, they mean the world to me.